Apparatus for extracting watch glasses



May 27, 1969 E. PIQUEREZ 3,445,913

APPARATUS FOR EXTRACTING WATCH GLASSES Filed May 16, 1966 Sheet of s May27, 1969 A PIQUEREZ' 3,445,913

APPARATUS FOR EXTRACTING WATCH GLASSES Filed May is, 1966 sheet 2 of eMay 27, 19 9 Filed May 16, 1966 E. PIQUEREZ 3,445,913

APPARATUS FOR EXTRACTING WATCH GLASSES 1 Sheet 3 of8 FIGS llmlllllllllhll I t 3 6 it: I l

*lDEfEi-QUI May 27, 1969 i Filed May 16, 1966 E. PIQUEREZ APPARATUS FOREXTRACTING WATCH GLASSES Sheet 4 of 8 May 27, 1969 E. PIQUEREZ APPARATUSFOR EXTRACTING WATCH GLASSES Filed May 16, 1966 Sheet FIG? May 27, 1969E. PIQUEREZ 3,445,913

APPARATUS FOR EXTRACTING WATCH GLASSES Filed May 16, 1966 Sheet 6 of sMay 27, 1969 E. PIQUEREZ APPARATUS FOR EXTRACTING WATCH GLASSES SheetFiled May 16, 1966 PIC-3.9

May 27, 1969 E. PIQUEREZ 3,445,913

APPARATUS FOR EXTRACTING WATCH GLASSES Filed May 16, 1966 Sheet 8 of 8FIGJZ United States Patent ice U.S. Cl. 29-210 5 Claims ABSTRACT OF THEDISCLOSURE This disclosure concerns appartus for extracting from a watchcase a watch glass which has gripping means distributed alongitsperiphery, such as a groove or projections, which includes graspingmeans such as a sleeve having a central opening of a diameter greaterthan the diameter of the glass and adapted to engage the gripping meanson the glass, with means for exerting an axial force distributed aboutthe periphery of the glass in a direction perpendicular to the force forextracting the glass by bearing against the watch case. 1

This invention relates to a process for removing the watch glass of awatch, tools for carrying out the process and watch glasses which can beused therewith.

Up till now the removal of a Watch glass is efiected generallymechanically or pneumatically by radial or axial deformation of theglass. This deformation is made possible by the elasticity of thematerial forming the watch glass.

Already known are tools which grip the glass on its periphery and permitto exert thereon a radial pressure such that the glass is deformed bycompression and bending and can thus be taken out of the watch case.However, the use of such tools has certain drawbacks. In effect, thedeformation of the glass is diflicult to control so that it oftenhappens that by applying too strong a force the glass is damaged. Inparticular, in the case of ring glasses the resistance to deformation ofthe ring being greater than that of the glass, the latter breaks or issectioned off during the extraction to the level of the ring which oftenstays in the case.

Also known are pneumatic systems wherein a suction cup is applied on theglass to be extracted. The glass is then stressed axially by thecreation of a depression of the cup and is deformed by bending. Hereagain the stresses put on the glass often cause cracks on the surfacethereof rendering it useles. Additionally, such systems can hardly beused for water-resistant watches, and especially ringed glasses wherethe radial pressure is relatively great. In effect the depressioncreated in a suction cup would in that case be increased in such a waythat the installation thereof would be substantially complicated andexpensive.

Finally it is known that glasses having an annular groove on their edgeexist. It has been proposed to use this groove for the introduction of akey, of the kind known in the watchmaking art as case-opener. In thiscase, however, it is possible to act on only one point of the peripheryof the glass by making the blade of the tool rest on the bezel or on themiddle of the watch case. This localised stress on the glass causes onassymmetric deformation thereof which not only is unsuitable for a readyextraction but additionally damages often the glass.

The present invention which obviates these drawbacks has for object anapparatus for removing glass from a watch having a grasping meansdistributed along the periphery of the glass.

A first preferred embodimentof the invention com- 3,445,913 Patented May27, 1969 prises a frame having on one side a cylindrical sleeve insidewhich is placed a plier and on the other side of which a membercontrolling the axial movement of said plier. This tool is characterisedby the fact that the jaws of this plier have a cylindrical part coaxialwith the sleeve of the frame which, cooperating with the latter by meansof an annular outer projection having a diameter superior to the innerdiameter of said sleeve, provokes the entry of the grasping means of thejaws of said plier in a peripheral groove of the glass, the relativemovement of the plier and of the sleeve bringing the flange against thepart of the watch case and causing the removal of the glass.

A second preferred embodiment of the tools comprises a plier, mounted ina fixed plane and the jaws of which cooperate with grasping means in theglass, by a removable plate parallel to the plier having a centralopening having a diameter greater than that of glass and lesser thanthat of the bezel of the watch and by control means capable ofsimultaneously assuring the closing of the plier and the separation ofthe plate to permit the extraction of the glass from the watch.

A third preferred embodiment of these tools comprises a sleeve bearingon its upper part, a control device characterised by the fact that saidsleve is flared out towards the bottom in the form of a truncated coneand has a cavity of revolution the lower cylindrical part of which bearshelical grasping means intended to cooperate with corresponding graspingmeans borne by the periphery of the glass, by the rotation of said tool,the glass introducing itself progressively in said cavity until the baseof the tool bearing against the periphery of the watch case provokes theremoval of the glass.

The invention will be better understood by referring to the followingdescription made by Way of non-limiting example and to the annexeddrawing wherein:

FIGURES 1 and 2 show in axial cross-section, the tool according to thefirst preferred embodiment of the invention shown in two extremepositions of operation;

FIGURES 3, 4, 5 and 6 show a second preferred embodiment of theinvention taken from the side, in crosssection along line IVIV of FIGURE3, in cross-section taken along VI-VI of FIGURE 3 and in detailed viewof FIGURE 5 respectively on which is mounted an accessory;

FIGURES 7 and 8 show in axial cross-section a preferred embodiment ofthe invention in two extreme phases of operation;

FIGURE 9 shows in axial cross-section a variant of the tool shown onFIGURES 7 and 8;

FIGURES 10, 11 and 12 shown in cross-section, three possible embodimentsof watch glasses permitting their use with the claimed apparatus.

The tool shown in FIGURES 1 and 2 comprises a frame 1 having on one sidea cylindrical sleeve 2 inside of which is placed a plier 3 and on theother side of which is mounted a control organ 4 for the axial movementof plier 3.

This latter has a cylindrical part 5 coaxial with sleeve '2. On theouter face of a cylindrical part 5 is formed an annular projection 6 thediameter of which is greater than the inner diameter of sleeve 2. Thebase of the inner surface of the cylindrical part 5 is bent back towardthe inside to form an annular flange 7. For its part, glass 8 mounted inwatch-case 9 has an annular groove 10 intended to cooperate with flange7 of the pliers.

In pliers 3 are provided three equidistant slots 3a only one of which isshown in the drawing, which extend in planes passing by the axis of thetool. These slots define on the pliers three jaws having a certainradial elasticity. For its part, sleeve 2 is covered by a cylindricalsocket 11 the base of which forms a slightly conical annular shoulder12. In the upper part 13 of the pliers is provided an inner tapping 14in which is introduced the threaded rod 15 integral with control member4. Spring 16 bears on one side against shoulder 17 of pliers 3 and onthe other side against the shoulder 13 of housing 1.

FIGURE 1 shows the pliers in open position, the tool being simply placedabove the watch-case. The inner diameter of annular flange 7 is greater,when the pliers are open, than the diameter of the Watch glass and theannular projection 6 is free from the cylindrical parts of sleeve 2. Itis in this position that the pliers are disposed around the glass insuch a way that the annular flange 7 of the jaws of the pliers come toface the annular groove of the glass.

In FIGURE 2 member 4 has been rotatedin order to provoke the insertionof pliers 3 in housing 1 against the action of spring 16. Projection 6of the jaws of the pliers bears against the cylindrical wall of sleeve 2in such a way that the jaws are gripped elastically towards the insideand the annular flange 7 engages in the corresponding groove of theglass.

Simultaneously, by the insertion of the pliers in the sleeve and whileflange 7 bears in groove 10, the annular shoulder 12 of socket 11surrounding the sleeve comes to bear against the bezel of watch case 9.

It is then by continuing the rotation of cylinder 4, that the jaws ofthe pliers axially extract the watch glass from the case, the shoulder12 of the tool bearing against the watch case. The watch glass is thussubjected only to the axial stress of the pliers which distributes alongits entire periphery the forces of traction. It does not risk to bedamaged by compression or bending effects.

The annular shoulder 12 of the sleeve can be provided with a thinelastic material to avoid damaging the corresponding part of the case.

In the embodiment described, the pliers comprises three slots definingthree jaws. While this arrangement ensures a suitable distribution offorces around the glass, the number of the jaws can be two or more thanthree. Besides, the manual control of the tool can be replaced by apneumatic or electrical control for example, the operating principle ofthe tool remaining however the same.

It should be noted that the above described tool can also be put intooperation manually as well as mechanically, for example, by means of adevice provoking the axial movement of pincers 3 in cylindrical sleeve2.

Referring now to FIGURES 3, 4, 5 and 6 which show the second preferredembodiment of the invention, 19 represents a frame.

Plate 20 and pincers 21 are mounted on columns 22a, 22b, 22c and 22d. Onframe 19 is secured a pillar 23 on which pivots and slides a socket 24hearing a plate 25. To the end of the pillar 23 is pivoted a lever 26.

Referring more particularly to FIGURE 4, there can be seen that thepincers 21 comprises two arms 27 and 28. While the extremities of thesearms are pivoted around columns 220 and 22d while the other extremitiesof these arms can move on one side and the other on columns 22a and 22b,elongated openings not visible on FIGURE 5 being provided for thispurpose in the extremities of these arms. Thus the pincers are securedin a horizontal plane parallel to that of plate 25 and the arms of thepincers can come together. Normally, these arms are spaced apart byspring 29. They can have on their opposite faces semi-circular openings30 and 31 forming jaws and which when the pincers are closed cometogether to form a circular window. Additionally openings 32 and 33 areprovided in the thin part of the arm. These openings are conical intheir upper part and communicate in their lower part with plate 20.

Plate 21 itself is freely mounted on columns 22a-22d and bearsconstantly against the pincers by spring 34a-34d wound around columns22. Tray 20 has a central window concentric with that of the closedpincers and in which is driven a protective socket 35.

The end 36 of plate 25 is secured a support 37 having two parallel parts38 and 39 the spacing of which corresponds to the distance of the axesof opening space 33 of arms 27 and 28 of the pincers, when the same isclosed. Member 40 mounted on the other face of the extremity 36 of plate25 has flanges 41 and 42 between which is mounted the roller 43.

The insertion of lever 26 between flanges 41 and 42 positions theparallel rods 38 and 39. When pressure is exerted on lever 26 whichbears then on the roller 43, rods 38 and 39 rigid with the socket 24come to meet pincers 21 against the action of spring 41 mounted onpillar 23 between socket 24 and frame 19.

The tool is used as follows:

There is introduced in socket 35 of tray 20 a watch the glass of whichmust be taken out, the socket being so dimensioned that it covers by itsperiphery the bezel of the watch while the glass emerges from betweenthe jaws of the pincers. When lever 26 is actuated, rods 38 and 39introduce themselves in the conical part of openings 32 and 33 of thearms of the pincers and afterwards engage in the cylindrical part ofthese openings by bringing the arms closer against the separating forceof spring 29. Thus the pliers close and its jaws imprison the grippingmeans of the glass, that is they introduce themselves for example in agroove of the latter. By continuing to actuate lever 26, rods 38 and 39,the length of which is greater than the thickness of the arms of thepincers, exert a pressure against tray 21 which against the return forceof spring 34 is separated from the pincers toward the bottom. Since thesocket 35 of the tray covers the bezel of the watch case, the latter isdriven toward the bottom and dissociated from the glass, which remainsbetween the jaws of the pincers. The extraction operation is finishedwhen the lever 26 is freed.

The described tool can be used as such, or on the contrary can beadvantageously completed by a device for inserting watch glasses. Thereis provided for this purpose on the other end 45 of plate 25 a body 46having on its lower surface the impression of the glass. Furthermore asshown on FIGURE 5, there is positioned on the pincers 21 an accessory47, the two tenons of which come to engage in the openings 32 and 33 ofthe spread out arms of the pincers. This accessory 47 is formed in sucha way as to take the shape of the watch case.

When it is desired to fit a glass on a watch case, it suffices to pivotplate 25 by lever 26 being brought up, and to then lower the lever onthe roller 48 mounted symmetrically at the extremity 45 of this plate.The watch case is placed on accessory 47 and the glass is mounted on thebezel. By exerting a pressure on the lever, body 46 then comes to bearon the glass and positions it perfectly with respect to the watch caseand introduces it in the opening of the bezel.

Referring now to FIGURES 7 and 8 which show a third preferredembodiment, the tool represented comprises a sleeve 49 bearing in itsupper part a knurled control knob 52. This sleeve 49 is elongated towardthe bottom by means of a flare 60 in the form of a truncated cone whichhas a cavity 50 the lower part of which 61, cylindrical, bears a helicalslot 51 having a profile 62 and a thread permitting it to cooperate withthe helical rib corresponding to the shoulder 58 borne by the peripheryof glass 56.

The periphery of the watch case has an annular thin section 63 whichlimits towards the bottom the advance of the tool.

Arrows 54 and 55 will indicate the direction of rotation of the toolduring functioning. While arrow 54 is directed toward the observer,arrow 55 points away therefrom.

The watch being immobilised by suitable means, not shown, for exampleheld tightly in the hand of the user, the base of the tool is firstpositioned in front of the helical rib as shown on FIGURE 7.

By turning the tool in the direction of arrows 54 and 55, controlled bythe knurled knob, the glass introduces itself progressively in theportion 61 of cavity 50 without disengaging itself from case 59 untilbase 53 of the tool comes to bear against the flat annular member 63 ofthe case.

The turning of the tool then forces the glass to insert itself furtherinto portion 61 of cavity 50 while separating itself from watch case 59,held by means of its annular flat member 63 against the base 53 of thetool, which results in the disengagement of the glass from the case andcauses its withdrawal thereof as shown on FIGURE 8.

FIGURE 9 shows a modification of the tool which has just been describedand which the gripping means borne by the flange are reduced to foursingle and identical helical ramps 64, regularly disposed on the lowercylindrical part 55 of cavity 66 and intended to engage by the axialmovement of the tool between the projecting helical ramps 67complementarily borne by the periphery of the glass.

The tool thus in position, its turning brings progressively the helicalramps 64 under the projecting ramps 67 of the glass and provokes theremoval of the glass in the manner previously described, as shown onFIGURES 7 and 8.

It has already been noted that ramps 64 which are shown to be four inthe drawings can be of any given number.

Finally, referring successively to FIGURES 10, 11 and 12 which showthree possible shapes for the glass with which the apparatus canoperate, glass 68, which has a reinforcing ring 69, is maintainedpressed in housing 70 of the bezel or of the middle of the watch. Theextraction tool 71 is shown schematically by way of example.

Glass 68 has an extracting groove 72 which is angular and provided in ahollow in its periphery above the upper level of the middle. The form ofthis groove 72 is that of a right-angled trapezium the upper nonparallel side of which 72a is horizontal and the side opposite thelatter forms an inclined plane 72b. This latter permits the engagementof flange 73 in the groove. This flange bears radially and is guidedaxially by its conical surface 72c of the groove.

Surface 72a of the latter permits the tool to bear axially duringremoval of the glass.

Glass 74 (FIGURE 11) has a groove 75 the shape of which is that of aright-angled triangle the small side of which 7512 has only for role tomaintain the large side 75a withdrawn with respect to the outerperiphery of the glass.

Although the extracting tool is not here shown it will be understoodthat this inclined surface 75a of conical shape, serves the tool both asa surface for radial support and as an axial supporting surface duringremoval of the glass.

The groove thus provided is more esthetic than shown on FIGURE 10.

According to a modification of the groove shown on FIGURE 11, peripheryof the glass shown on FIGURE 12 has this time a groove formed uniquelyby means of a truncated inclined surface 76 overflowing the cylindricaledge 77 of the glass.

This variant corresponds to the groove shown on FIG- URE 11 in whichsurface 75b has been removed.

The grooves of the glass of which have just been described permit therapid removal of the same without subjecting the periphery to any sortof damage.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for extracting a watch glass having gripping meansdistributed along its periphery from a watch case comprising:

(i) a support adapted to surround said periphery of said watch glass,said support comprising a plurality of jaws adapted to surround theglass, each jaw being provided with engaging means on its inner surfacein the form of an inwardly projecting flange,

that

the jaws being elastically movable radially of the glass;

(ii) grasping means mounted in said support for engaging said grippingmeans on said glass when said support surrounds the glass;

(iii) axially movable operable means associated with said support forcausing said grasping means to engage with said gripping means on theperiphery of the glass, operable means comprising a sleeve surroundingsaid jaws and axially movable with respect to said jaws, said sleevebeing adapted to engage, during axial movement towards the watch, aprojection provided on the outer surface of each jaw to push the jawselastically inward so that the flange engages with said engaging meanson the glass;

(iv) said sleeve being further adapted to engage said watch case, duringfurther axial movement towards the watch, whereby still further axiallymovement of the sleeve in the same direction extracts the glass from thecase. 1

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which said grasping meanssimultaneously constitute said operable means.

3. Apparatus for extracting a round watch glass having gripping meansfrom a watch case according to claim 1 in which a plate is providedadapted to receive the watch case,

(i) and wherein said support comprises a pair of jaws adapted tosurround the watch glass;

each jaw being provided with engaging means on its inner surface in theform of an inwardly projecting flange,

each jaw being pivotable at one end about an axis parallel to the axisof the watch,

the ends of the jaws containing the pivoting axes being located adjacentto each other,

the other two adjacent ends being biased apart by a spring,

each jaw having an opening parallel to the axis of the watch,

the upper part of said opening having a conical surface and increasingin diameter towards the p and the bottom part of said openingcommunicating with said plate,

(ii) said operable means comprises a member having two downwardlyprojecting pins, rigidly spaced apart, a lever for moving said member,each pin being adapted to cooperate with said conical surface of one ofsaid openings;

whereby during downward movement of said member, said pins engage saidconical surfaces of said openings and urge the jaws together against theaction of said spring to enage said gripping means on said glass,

(iii) said pins being long enuogh to pass through said openings andengage said plate whereby further movement of the member in the samedirection moves the plate away from the jaws, whereby said glass isextracted from the case.

4. Apparatus according to claim 2, for extracting a round watch glasshaving gripping means along the periphery thereof in the form of ahelical shoulder, wherein:

said support comprises a sleeve having in the upper part thereof aknurled control knob, said sleeve having a flared bottom in the shape ofan open truncated cone, having an opening adapted to receive said watchglass, the lower part of said cone having grasping means therein in theform of a helical slot for engaging said shoulder on said glass; saidcone having a lower extremity whereby upon engagement between saidshoulder and said slot and rotation of said apparatus by means of saidknob said glass is 7 8 progressively introduced in said cone until saidlower References Cited extremity of said cone comes to bear upon saidWatch UNITED STATES PATENTS case whereupon further rotation of said knobcauses said glass to become disengaged from said case. 2,338,343 1/1944Mime 29210 X 5. Apparatus according to claim 4, for removing a 52,994,949 8/1961 Gefber 29-410 round watch glass having gripping meansalong its pe- 3,052,906 9/1962 Shlfiman 29 210 riphery in the form ofdiscrete inclined flanges wherein THOMAS H, EAGER, Primary Examiner.said grasping means in said sleeve consist of a plurality of discreteinclined flanges for engaging said flanges on the US. Cl. X.R. peripheryof said glass. 10 29-177, 427

